Federal Investigators Identify Killer in Virginia’s Cold Case
After nearly four decades shrouded in enigma, federal authorities have revealed the identity of the suspected perpetrator behind one of Virginia’s most unsettling unsolved cases.
On Tuesday, the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office disclosed that significant advances in forensic science have definitively linked the 1986 murders of Cathleen Thomas and Rebecca Dowski—victims of the notorious Colonial Parkway murders—to a deceased individual believed to be responsible for a minimum of six additional homicides.
The inquiry led investigators to conclude that Alan Wade Wilmer Sr. was the assailant who claimed the lives of the two women, who were last seen together on October 9, 1986, at a computer lab at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.
Wilmer Sr., a fisherman who passed away in 2017 at the age of 63, was implicated in a series of at least six other murders and disappearances of young individuals in Virginia from 1986 to 1989, according to the FBI.
Alan W. Wilmer Sr. has been identified as the perpetrator of the Colonial Parkway murders, although he passed away in 2017, according to Virginia State Police.
Remarkable Developments in the Investigation
Wilmer, who resided in Lancaster County, spent his leisure time engaged in fishing and hunting, frequently docking at marinas in Gloucester and Middlesex counties.
From 1986 to 1989, a spate of violent incidents unfolded near Virginia’s Colonial Parkway, culminating in the murders and abductions of at least eight young individuals, officials have indicated.
These heinous acts have come to be known as the Colonial Parkway murders, constituting one of the most protracted cold case probes in Virginia’s history.
Grim Discovery of Victims
Following the abduction of Thomas, aged 27, and Dowski, aged 21, their bodies were discovered within their vehicle along the Colonial Parkway.
They had been stabbed and strangled, although authorities have yet to determine whether the women were subjected to sexual assault.
This inquiry remained unresolved until recent advancements in forensic technology and DNA analysis facilitated the identification of Wilmer as the alleged murderer of the two women.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia stated that had Wilmer been alive, sufficient evidence would have warranted federal prosecution.
Alan Wilmer Sr. would have faced charges for five murders associated with the Colonial Parkway, had he still been alive, officials stated.
Connection to Additional Homicides
Authorities have linked Wilmer to the 1987 slayings of David Knobling, 20, and Robin M. Edwards, 14, in Isle of Wight, as well as the 1989 murder of Teresa Lynn Spaw Howell, 29, in Hampton, Virginia.
The bodies of Knobling and Edwards, last seen together on September 19, 1987, were recovered days later, both exhibiting gunshot wounds along the banks of the Ragged Island Wildlife Management Area. Disturbingly, Edwards was sexually assaulted, as per official sources.
Two years later, on July 1, 1989, Howell’s body was discovered in a wooded area after she departed a nearby nightclub.
FBI Norfolk characterized Thomas as a “vibrant young woman,” noted for her compassion and intelligence, as well as for the cherished relationships she cultivated with family and friends.
Dowski, recognized as a gifted musician and student, is remembered for her creativity, kindness, and passion for music.
Law enforcement released images of Alan W. Wilmer Sr.’s vehicles, as investigations continue into other potential crimes he may have committed.
“I am immensely proud of the diligence demonstrated by the men and women of FBI Norfolk, whose unwavering commitment to justice has been commendable,” remarked Dominique Evans, special agent in charge of the FBI Norfolk Field Office.
“This investigation highlights the strength of our collaboration with the Virginia State Police, the Hampton Police Division, and the Suffolk Police Department, and embodies our joint determination to seek justice for victims and their families,” Evans continued.
“We are grateful that advancements in technology and DNA evidence have finally provided answers in this case.”
The Hampton Police Division expressed appreciation for the community’s ongoing support and vital information.
Efforts for Closure
“We hope that this development affords the families a sense of closure, solace, and peace,” the division stated.
Family members of the victims attended the announcement regarding the case’s resolution; however, Thomas’s brother, Bill, expressed his belief that there are more than eight victims associated with the Colonial Parkway murders.
“I firmly believe that Alan Wade Wilmer Sr. is connected to additional murders,” Thomas remarked. “At this moment, due to existing laws, we cannot input his DNA into CODIS, as he was never convicted of any crime prior to his death in 2017.”
Family members are advocating for legislative amendments to resolve other unsolved cases.
Source link: Foxnews.com.
